Turbomachine

Abstract

A turbomachine that includes a housing and a circuit assembly. The housing includes an inlet for admitting a working airflow and a flange that extends from the inlet. The circuit assembly includes a circuit board and an electrical component having a heat sink. The circuit assembly is located within the housing such that the flange extends beyond the circuit board and the heat sink extends beyond the flange.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A turbomachine comprising a housing, a circuit assembly and a stator assembly, wherein:
 the housing comprises an inlet for admitting a working airflow and a flange that extends from the inlet, the inlet overlying the stator assembly such that the stator assembly is visible through the inlet, 
 the circuit assembly comprises a circuit board and an electrical component having a heat sink, and the circuit assembly is located within the housing such that the flange extends beyond the circuit board and the heat sink extends beyond the flange, wherein: 
 the circuit board lies along a plane orthogonal to an axis of rotation of a rotor, and the plane is located at a first elevation on the axis of rotation of the rotor; 
 the flange extends axially through the circuit board at least from the first elevation down to a second elevation on the axis; 
 the electrical component and the heat sink extend axially from the first elevation down to a third elevation on the axis that is lower than the second elevation on the axis; 
 the stator assembly extends from a fourth elevation along the axis to a fifth elevation on the axis; and 
 a portion of the axis between the fourth elevation and the fifth elevation overlaps with a portion of the axis between the first elevation and the third elevation. 
 
     
     
       2. The turbomachine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flange is annular and the circuit board surrounds the flange and comprises an aperture through which the flange extends. 
     
     
       3. The turbomachine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the turbomachine comprises a rotor assembly located within the housing, the rotor assembly comprises a shaft to which a rotor core and an impeller are mounted, the rotor core is proximal to the inlet, and the impeller is distal to the inlet. 
     
     
       4. The turbomachine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the turbomachine comprises an electrical machine and the component is a power switch for controlling power to or from the electrical machine. 
     
     
       5. The turbomachine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the stator assembly comprises a pair of opposing stator cores, and the inlet is elongated. 
     
     
       6. A turbomachine comprising a housing, an impeller and a motor, wherein the impeller and the motor are located within the housing, the impeller is driven by the motor, the motor comprises a circuit assembly, the circuit assembly comprises a circuit board and one or more power switches for controlling the supply of electrical power to the motor, each power switch comprises a heat sink, the housing comprises an inlet and a flange that extends from the inlet, the impeller draws an airflow in the housing via the inlet, and the circuit assembly is located within the housing such that the flange extends beyond the circuit board and the heat sink extends beyond the flange, wherein:
 the circuit board lies along a plane orthogonal to an axis of rotation of a rotor, and the plane is located at a first elevation on the axis of rotation of the rotor; 
 the flange extends axially through the circuit board at least from the first elevation down to a second elevation on the axis; 
 the electrical component and the heat sink extend axially from the first elevation down to a third elevation on the axis that is lower than the second elevation on the axis; 
 the stator assembly extends from a fourth elevation along the axis to a fifth elevation on the axis; and 
 a portion of the axis between the fourth elevation and the fifth elevation overlaps with a portion of the axis between the first elevation and the third elevation. 
 
     
     
       7. The turbomachine as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the motor comprises a rotor assembly, the rotor assembly comprises a shaft to which a rotor core and the impeller are mounted, the rotor core is proximal to the inlet, and the impeller is distal to the inlet.